One of the biggest myths parents often hear is the following: \u201cdo not pick up your newborn and hug them as soon as they start crying.\u00a0 You are spoiling them!\u201d.<\/p>\n

This week, I am focusing on this topic not only because I was also given this advice, but the fact that if you ignore a newborn\u2019s cries, it would create a ripple effect for a newborn\u2019s development in the months and years to come.\u00a0 Let us read on and find out why.<\/p>\n

Why do babies cry?\u00a0 To put it simply, the only way that a newborn can verbally respond effectively to us is through crying.\u00a0 At an early stage between six to eight weeks, babies cry at an average of 3 hours a day, and most of the time, they cry because they are either hungry, unsettled, in need of diaper change, uncomfortable (too hot, or cold) or is sick and is experiencing fever.\u00a0 Once you understand the reasons, it will help parents or caretakers to eliminate the discomforts mentioned above.\u00a0 Sometimes, if a parent is observant, the frequency of cries, tone, and temperament may be different for each reason.\u00a0 Even if it is somewhat difficult to tell these cries apart, we as parents can learn to identify them so we can react quicker to our baby\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Once we have identified the reason why your baby is crying, let us understand the science behind why it is important for us to hug our babies when they cry.\u00a0 For parents, the act of hugging the baby is to offer solace so they feel more at ease.\u00a0 The science behind offering our comfort to babies goes a lot deeper than we often realize.\u00a0 According to multiple studies, when babies cry, their respiratory rate (heart and lung functions) increases in order to cope with the action that is occurring (crying).\u00a0 As soon as a parent, caregiver or, even a stranger offers comfort by hugging and stroking the baby, their respiratory rate reduces.\u00a0 Therefore, we as parents, need to pay attention and try to console the baby as best and as soon as we can.<\/p>\n

According to J Kevin Nugent, Director of Brazelton Institute at Children\u2019s Hospital in Boston and a psychologist, indicates that \u201ca challenge of the newborn is getting to know that the world is somehow reliable and trustworthy, that his or her basic need will be met.\u201d\u00a0 He goes on to comment that responding to a baby\u2019s cues \u201cisn\u2019t a matter of spoiling, but it\u2019s a matter of meeting the child\u2019s needs\u201d.\u00a0 Baby\u2019s psychological response to hugging is not too complex, and Dr. Barbara Howard (Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore) says that \u201ca spoiled child is one that\u2019s manipulative, but babies don\u2019t learn until they are about 9 months that they can cry to get you to do something for them\u201d.<\/p>\n

What happens if the baby is often neglected when they cry?\u00a0 According to multiple studies, our babies will be directly affected by some of the following.\u00a0 Some of these may depend on how long they are neglected and also the sociological, psychological background they experience during their neglect.<\/p>\n

\n
• Increased risk of diabetes.<\/li>\n
• Poorer lung functioning.<\/li>\n
• Vision and oral health problems.<\/li>\n
• Malnutrition.<\/li>\n
• Brain damage.<\/li>\n
• High blood pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  When we become parents, we are responsible to give the best care for our babies.\u00a0 If we do not have the time, we make the time; if we are too tired, we find the energy to do so; if we are annoyed by our baby\u2019s cries, we find a place deep in our hearts to comfort them; if we do not understand how they think, we do our due diligence and try to learn about them.\u00a0 Let us try to give them more than what we may have been given when we were once babies.\u00a0 It is not just our responsibility; it is our moral obligation to do so.<\/p>\n

  A quote from Ms. Ann Rinaldi (Aug 1934 \u2013 Jul 2021, American young adult fiction author): \u201cI know now why God gave us babies.\u00a0 They require constant attention of course.\u00a0 They make mess and disturb the peace, but their cuteness and smiles are something the only reminder of God we have in the house\u201d.<\/p>\n

  Text:<\/p>\n

  www.webmd.com\/parenting\/baby\/features\/infants-attention<\/a><\/p>\n

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6724449\/<\/a><\/p>\n

  www.childwelfare.gov\/pubpdfs\/long_term_consequences.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

  Pic:<\/p>\n

  www.momtastic.com\/health-wellness\/689379-benefits-of-hugging-your-baby\/<\/a><\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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